Arroyo names OIC for outgoing Navy chief

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has named Navy vice commander Rear Adm. Danilo Cortez as temporary replacement for outgoing Navy Chief Admiral Ferdinand Golez, who will retire on May 16. Cortez will assume the post in concurrent capacity given the constitutional ban on appointments during the election period, Golez said in an interview. "Admiral Cortez is definitely a very capable naval officer. I have known him since April 1972 when we started our days in [Philippine Military Academy]," Golez said, adding his deputy will assume the post from May 16 to July, or until the next president makes another appointment. The decision was announced weeks after the Board of Generals (BOG) rejected a permanent replacement for Golez given the ban on "midnight appointments". (See: Military board against ‘midnight appointment’ of Navy chief replacement) The BOG also said it prefers the deputy to assume post to prevent any further movement in the Navy and to ensure that Cortez will have a position to return to in case the next president decides to appoint someone else. Cortez is the president of the PMA Class 1977, whose members reportedly felt bypassed after President Arroyo appointed Gen. Delfin Bangit (PMA Class 1978) as Armed Forces chief. Officers of the Class 1977 — which adopted presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. as an honorary member — also reportedly met with Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to discuss a possible failure of elections. - Aie B. See, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV